US20030235289A1 - Method of and apparatus wherein a telephone user on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal - Google Patents
Method of and apparatus wherein a telephone user on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030235289A1 US20030235289A1 US10/175,408 US17540802A US2003235289A1 US 20030235289 A1 US20030235289 A1 US 20030235289A1 US 17540802 A US17540802 A US 17540802A US 2003235289 A1 US2003235289 A1 US 2003235289A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- audio signal
- user
- objectionable
- telephone
- music
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/82—Line monitoring circuits for call progress or status discrimination
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/64—Automatic arrangements for answering calls; Automatic arrangements for recording messages for absent subscribers; Arrangements for recording conversations
- H04M1/65—Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/80—Telephone line holding circuits
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/006—Call diverting means
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M3/00—Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
- H04M3/42—Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers
- H04M3/428—Arrangements for placing incoming calls on hold
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to telephony and more particularly to a telephony method and apparatus wherein a telephone user who is on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal.
- a telephone user particularly a caller to a business which provides goods or services
- a telephone user is placed on hold while in a queue waiting to be served, or for other reasons.
- the business placing the telephone user on hold frequently switches the user to an audio signal source, which the user finds objectionable.
- an objectionable audio signal source is music the user finds boring or offensive.
- the user is switched to a radio program which the user also finds objectionable.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved telephony method and apparatus, wherein a telephone user who remains on hold is not forced to listen to an objectionable audio signal.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved telephony method and apparatus wherein a telephone user who remains on hold is automatically switched to an audio source of his/her choice, which can include silence, until the hold situation no longer exists.
- An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic apparatus for enabling telephone users who remain on hold to avoid listening to objectionable audio signals transmitted to him/her by a different telephone user who puts the user on hold.
- One aspect of the invention relates to a method of enabling a telephone user who is at a first station and is placed on hold at a second station from listening to an objectionable audio signal while a call is in process between the user and the second telephone station.
- the objectionable audio signal is detected while the call is in process.
- the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal while the objectionable audio signal is being detected.
- the end of the objectionable audio signal is detected while the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal.
- the user is coupled to the second telephone station.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for enabling a telephone user who is at a first station and placed on hold at a second station from listening to an objectionable audio signal while a call is in process between the user and the second telephone station.
- the apparatus comprises a detector for detecting the objectionable audio signal while the call is in process.
- a processor arrangement coupled to be responsive to the detector is arranged for (a) preventing the user from hearing the objectionable audio signal while the objectionable audio signal is being detected, (b) detecting the end of the objectionable audio signal while the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal, and (c) coupling the user to the second telephone station in response to detection of the end of the objectionable audio signal.
- the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal by substituting an audio signal (including silence) that is a choice of the user for the objectionable audio signal.
- the audio signal that is a choice of the user is preferably supplied to the user via a telephone at the first station.
- the objectionable audio signal is music that is detected in response to detection of a beat pattern.
- FIGURE is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a telephony apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
- telephone station 10 including telephone terminal 12 and telephone adapter 14 is connected to telephone line 16 , in turn connected to telephone network 18 including a second station (not shown) with capabilities of transferring a user of telephone terminal 12 to a hold status.
- telephone network 18 including a second station (not shown) with capabilities of transferring a user of telephone terminal 12 to a hold status.
- the user at station 10 is subjected to music that the user is likely to find objectionable because it is boring or offensive.
- Telephone adapter 14 is arranged so that the user of telephone terminal 12 is not subjected to the objectionable music telephone line 16 couples to the adapter.
- the objectionable music on line 16 is automatically replaced by an audio signal (including silence) from an audio source of the choice of the user. The user can, if he/she so desires, overcome the automatic replacing feature.
- adapter 14 includes female telephone connector 20 , of a conventional type, that is connected to male telephone connector 22 at the end of line 16 .
- Adapter 14 also includes male telephone connector 24 , of a conventional type, adapted to be connected to female telephone connector 26 at the end of telephone line 28 , which is connected to telephone station 12 by connectors 32 and 34 respectively at the end of line 28 and in telephone station 12 .
- Connectors 20 and 24 as well as the circuits connected to them which are a part of adapter 14 , are located in housing 36 , with connectors 20 and 24 being on walls of the housing.
- Connector 20 includes a pair of terminals 38 which are connected by cables 40 and 42 to music detector 44 and double pole double throw switch 46 .
- detector 44 activates double pole double throw switch 46 so that terminals 38 are connected to corresponding terminals of male telephone connector 24 , causing normal connections to exist between telephone station 12 and telephone line 16 and telephone network 18 by way of adapter 14 .
- Music detector 44 can be of any conventional type, but preferably detects beats associated with music, rather than voice signals.
- the contacts of switch 46 are connected to terminals of cable 48 when detector 44 detects music on cable 40 .
- Music detector 44 is typically powered by battery 50 through normally closed switch contacts 52 .
- the user of telephone terminal 12 at station 10 can open switch contacts 52 by manually activating spring biased push button switch 53 to disconnect battery 50 from detector 44 and thereby disable the detector.
- Cable 48 extends through a wall of housing 36 and includes at its end earphone jack 54 which is adapted to be connected to an earphone receptacle of audio source 56 , such as a magnetic tape playback unit, a compact disk (CD) player or a radio receiver, which is the choice of the user of terminal 12 .
- an earphone receptacle of audio source 56 such as a magnetic tape playback unit, a compact disk (CD) player or a radio receiver, which is the choice of the user of terminal 12 .
- a user of telephone terminal 12 places a call to the second station which is connected to network 18 .
- the second station is associated with a business that sells goods and/or services the user wants to buy.
- the user of telephone terminal 12 is placed on hold by the second station shortly after the call is placed.
- the second station then begins transmitting objectionable music to the user of terminal 12 via network 18 .
- Music detector 44 of adapter 14 detects the music the second station is transmitting over network 18 and which is coupled to detector 44 via line 16 , connectors 20 and 22 and cable 40 .
- the detector activates double pole double throw switch 46 , which is essentially a processor, to decouple the signal on cable 42 from telephone terminal 12 .
- Detector 44 then activates switch 46 so that the signal from audio source 56 is coupled via earphone jack 54 and cable 48 through the switch to cable 30 , thence via connectors 24 and 26 and telephone line 28 , as well as connectors 32 and 34 to telephone terminal 12 .
- the objectionable music or other audio content transmitted by the second terminal to telephone terminal 12 is replaced by music that is the choice of the user of telephone terminal 12 , or silence, as the user of the telephone terminal desires.
- music detector 44 In response to the music from the second station being decoupled from telephone line 16 as a result of (1) a person at the second station responding to the call from telephone terminal 12 or (2) a recorded voice message being transmitted from the second station to station 10 via network 18 and line 16 , music detector 44 is deactivated. In response to deactivation of music detector 44 , switch 46 is activated so that cable 42 is connected to cable 30 and the audio signal on cable 48 is decoupled from cable 30 . Thereby, the user of telephone terminal 12 is able to hear either the recorded voice message from the second station or the voice of a person at the second station.
- battery 50 can be replaced by an appropriate AC to DC power supply driven by a wall outlet.
- Audio source 56 can be silence, which is particularly desirable for telephone users who want to be engaged in some other activity requiring concentration while waiting to hear a voice message from the second station.
- the audio source can also be included within the adapter 14 or the housing of telephone terminal.
- the components in adapter 14 can be located within the housing of telephone terminal 12 and the functions provided by music detector 44 and switch 46 can be provided by an appropriately programmed digital processor.
- the objectionable audio source transmitted by the second station is not necessarily music.
- Detector 44 can be arranged to detect such a sudden, substantial and sustained increase in audio signal level, as well as music.
Abstract
Description
- The present invention relates generally to telephony and more particularly to a telephony method and apparatus wherein a telephone user who is on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal.
- Frequently, a telephone user, particularly a caller to a business which provides goods or services, is placed on hold while in a queue waiting to be served, or for other reasons. The business placing the telephone user on hold frequently switches the user to an audio signal source, which the user finds objectionable. Such an objectionable audio signal source is music the user finds boring or offensive. In some instances, the user is switched to a radio program which the user also finds objectionable.
- At the present time, telephone users who remain on hold under such circumstances have no recourse but to listen to the objectionable audio signal. Many telephone users who remain on hold under such circumstances would prefer to listen to an audio source other than the source transmitted by the business to the user or may wish not to hear any audio signal while waiting to be served.
- It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved telephony method and apparatus, wherein a telephone user who remains on hold is not forced to listen to an objectionable audio signal.
- Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved telephony method and apparatus wherein a telephone user who remains on hold is automatically switched to an audio source of his/her choice, which can include silence, until the hold situation no longer exists.
- An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved automatic apparatus for enabling telephone users who remain on hold to avoid listening to objectionable audio signals transmitted to him/her by a different telephone user who puts the user on hold.
- One aspect of the invention relates to a method of enabling a telephone user who is at a first station and is placed on hold at a second station from listening to an objectionable audio signal while a call is in process between the user and the second telephone station. The objectionable audio signal is detected while the call is in process. The user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal while the objectionable audio signal is being detected. The end of the objectionable audio signal is detected while the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal. In response to detection of the end of the objectionable audio signal, the user is coupled to the second telephone station.
- Another aspect of the invention relates to an apparatus for enabling a telephone user who is at a first station and placed on hold at a second station from listening to an objectionable audio signal while a call is in process between the user and the second telephone station. The apparatus comprises a detector for detecting the objectionable audio signal while the call is in process. A processor arrangement coupled to be responsive to the detector is arranged for (a) preventing the user from hearing the objectionable audio signal while the objectionable audio signal is being detected, (b) detecting the end of the objectionable audio signal while the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal, and (c) coupling the user to the second telephone station in response to detection of the end of the objectionable audio signal.
- Preferably, the user is prevented from hearing the objectionable audio signal by substituting an audio signal (including silence) that is a choice of the user for the objectionable audio signal. The audio signal that is a choice of the user is preferably supplied to the user via a telephone at the first station.
- Usually, the objectionable audio signal is music that is detected in response to detection of a beat pattern.
- The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a specific embodiment thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
- The sole FIGURE is a block diagram of a preferred embodiment of a telephony apparatus in accordance with the present invention.
- Reference is now made to the FIGURE wherein
telephone station 10, includingtelephone terminal 12 andtelephone adapter 14 is connected totelephone line 16, in turn connected totelephone network 18 including a second station (not shown) with capabilities of transferring a user oftelephone terminal 12 to a hold status. During the hold status, the user atstation 10 is subjected to music that the user is likely to find objectionable because it is boring or offensive.Telephone adapter 14 is arranged so that the user oftelephone terminal 12 is not subjected to the objectionablemusic telephone line 16 couples to the adapter. The objectionable music online 16 is automatically replaced by an audio signal (including silence) from an audio source of the choice of the user. The user can, if he/she so desires, overcome the automatic replacing feature. - To these ends,
adapter 14 includesfemale telephone connector 20, of a conventional type, that is connected tomale telephone connector 22 at the end ofline 16.Adapter 14 also includesmale telephone connector 24, of a conventional type, adapted to be connected tofemale telephone connector 26 at the end oftelephone line 28, which is connected totelephone station 12 byconnectors line 28 and intelephone station 12.Connectors adapter 14, are located inhousing 36, withconnectors -
Connector 20 includes a pair ofterminals 38 which are connected bycables music detector 44 and double poledouble throw switch 46. In normal operation,detector 44 activates double poledouble throw switch 46 so thatterminals 38 are connected to corresponding terminals ofmale telephone connector 24, causing normal connections to exist betweentelephone station 12 andtelephone line 16 andtelephone network 18 by way ofadapter 14.Music detector 44 can be of any conventional type, but preferably detects beats associated with music, rather than voice signals. The contacts ofswitch 46 are connected to terminals ofcable 48 whendetector 44 detects music oncable 40.Music detector 44 is typically powered bybattery 50 through normally closedswitch contacts 52. The user oftelephone terminal 12 atstation 10 can openswitch contacts 52 by manually activating spring biasedpush button switch 53 to disconnectbattery 50 fromdetector 44 and thereby disable the detector. - Cable48 extends through a wall of
housing 36 and includes at itsend earphone jack 54 which is adapted to be connected to an earphone receptacle ofaudio source 56, such as a magnetic tape playback unit, a compact disk (CD) player or a radio receiver, which is the choice of the user ofterminal 12. - In typical operation, a user of
telephone terminal 12 places a call to the second station which is connected tonetwork 18. The second station is associated with a business that sells goods and/or services the user wants to buy. The user oftelephone terminal 12 is placed on hold by the second station shortly after the call is placed. The second station then begins transmitting objectionable music to the user ofterminal 12 vianetwork 18.Music detector 44 ofadapter 14 detects the music the second station is transmitting overnetwork 18 and which is coupled todetector 44 vialine 16,connectors cable 40. In response todetector 44 detecting music fromcable 40, the detector activates double poledouble throw switch 46, which is essentially a processor, to decouple the signal oncable 42 fromtelephone terminal 12.Detector 44 then activatesswitch 46 so that the signal fromaudio source 56 is coupled viaearphone jack 54 andcable 48 through the switch tocable 30, thence viaconnectors telephone line 28, as well asconnectors telephone terminal 12. Thereby, the objectionable music or other audio content transmitted by the second terminal totelephone terminal 12 is replaced by music that is the choice of the user oftelephone terminal 12, or silence, as the user of the telephone terminal desires. - If the user of
telephone terminal 12 decides that he/she wants to listen to the music being coupled to adapter 14 from the second station, the user manually activatespush button 53 to openswitch contacts 52 and disconnectbattery 50 fromdetector 44, thereby disablingmusic detector 44. Sinceswitch 46 is normally arranged so that the signal oncable 42 is coupled throughswitch 46 tocable 30, disablingmusic detector 44 causestelephone terminal 12 to be connected totelephone line 16 andtelephone network 18. The user closescontacts 52 when he/she no longer wishes to hear the music originating at the second station by releasingpush button 53. - In response to the music from the second station being decoupled from
telephone line 16 as a result of (1) a person at the second station responding to the call fromtelephone terminal 12 or (2) a recorded voice message being transmitted from the second station tostation 10 vianetwork 18 andline 16,music detector 44 is deactivated. In response to deactivation ofmusic detector 44,switch 46 is activated so thatcable 42 is connected tocable 30 and the audio signal oncable 48 is decoupled fromcable 30. Thereby, the user oftelephone terminal 12 is able to hear either the recorded voice message from the second station or the voice of a person at the second station. - While there has been described and illustrated a specific embodiment of the invention, it will be clear that variations in the details of the embodiment specifically illustrated and described may be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. For example,
battery 50 can be replaced by an appropriate AC to DC power supply driven by a wall outlet.Audio source 56 can be silence, which is particularly desirable for telephone users who want to be engaged in some other activity requiring concentration while waiting to hear a voice message from the second station. The audio source can also be included within theadapter 14 or the housing of telephone terminal. The components inadapter 14 can be located within the housing oftelephone terminal 12 and the functions provided bymusic detector 44 andswitch 46 can be provided by an appropriately programmed digital processor. The objectionable audio source transmitted by the second station is not necessarily music. Some businesses which place telephone users on hold interject objectionable commercials with messages of interest. The commercials can frequently be detected by detecting a sudden, substantial and sustained increase in audio signal level.Detector 44 can be arranged to detect such a sudden, substantial and sustained increase in audio signal level, as well as music.
Claims (18)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/175,408 US7136479B2 (en) | 2002-06-19 | 2002-06-19 | Method of and apparatus wherein a telephone user on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US10/175,408 US7136479B2 (en) | 2002-06-19 | 2002-06-19 | Method of and apparatus wherein a telephone user on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal |
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US20030235289A1 true US20030235289A1 (en) | 2003-12-25 |
US7136479B2 US7136479B2 (en) | 2006-11-14 |
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US10/175,408 Expired - Fee Related US7136479B2 (en) | 2002-06-19 | 2002-06-19 | Method of and apparatus wherein a telephone user on hold is not required to listen to an objectionable audio signal |
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Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US8284927B1 (en) * | 2007-09-26 | 2012-10-09 | Avaya Inc. | Telephone using an external media device to provide on-hold information |
US20150332708A1 (en) * | 2014-05-13 | 2015-11-19 | Thomson Licensing | Method and apparatus for replacing telephone on hold music at a caller's side |
EP2961147A1 (en) * | 2014-06-24 | 2015-12-30 | Laboratories Thomson Ltd. | Method of setting detection parameters in an apparatus for on-hold music detection |
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US8570175B2 (en) * | 2007-11-26 | 2013-10-29 | Gil Goel Rahimi | Securely attachable monitoring device |
US9888115B2 (en) | 2013-02-28 | 2018-02-06 | Lennard A. Gumaer | Media device and method of using a media device |
CN103685245B (en) * | 2013-11-29 | 2017-05-10 | 杭州华三通信技术有限公司 | Conversation music control method and device |
US10652715B1 (en) | 2018-02-12 | 2020-05-12 | Trigroup Technologies, Ltd. | Restoring local control of a radio head unit in a motor vehicle when a wireless call is placed on hold |
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JPH0216850A (en) | 1988-07-04 | 1990-01-19 | Nec Corp | Telephone set |
JPH02177692A (en) | 1988-12-27 | 1990-07-10 | Matsushita Electric Ind Co Ltd | Key telephone system |
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US6952416B1 (en) * | 1998-06-22 | 2005-10-04 | Nortel Networks Limited | Treatments in a distributed communications system |
US6208729B1 (en) * | 1998-10-16 | 2001-03-27 | At&T Corp. | Method and apparatus for on-hold switching |
US6400804B1 (en) * | 1998-12-10 | 2002-06-04 | At&T Corp. | On-hold activity selection apparatus and method |
US6456601B1 (en) * | 1999-06-04 | 2002-09-24 | Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. | Method and system to provide telephony tones and announcements in a packetized network environment |
US6694012B1 (en) * | 1999-08-30 | 2004-02-17 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | System and method to provide control of music on hold to the hold party |
US6751306B2 (en) * | 2001-04-05 | 2004-06-15 | International Business Machines Corporation | Local on-hold information service with user-controlled personalized menu |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US8284927B1 (en) * | 2007-09-26 | 2012-10-09 | Avaya Inc. | Telephone using an external media device to provide on-hold information |
US20150332708A1 (en) * | 2014-05-13 | 2015-11-19 | Thomson Licensing | Method and apparatus for replacing telephone on hold music at a caller's side |
US10049688B2 (en) * | 2014-05-13 | 2018-08-14 | Thomson Licensing | Method for handling on-hold music during telephone connection and corresponding communication device |
EP2961147A1 (en) * | 2014-06-24 | 2015-12-30 | Laboratories Thomson Ltd. | Method of setting detection parameters in an apparatus for on-hold music detection |
EP2961146A1 (en) * | 2014-06-24 | 2015-12-30 | Laboratories Thomson Ltd. | Method and system for setting detection parameters in an apparatus for on-hold music detection |
US9398150B2 (en) | 2014-06-24 | 2016-07-19 | Thomson Licensing | Method of setting detection parameters in an apparatus for on hold music detection |
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